Greece: Kalomoira's composer exclusive

by Aris kalimeris 332 views

The Greek national final is under way and the three artists that will try to obtain the golden ticket for Belgrade have already chosen their songs. Kalomoira, one of the three finalists participating in the national final that will take place on the 27th of February, is entering the race with the song Secret combination composed by Kostas Pantzis while the lyrics are from Poseidonas Giannopoulos.

After looking at a great number of songs, Kalomoira finally decided to try her luck in the Greek final for the Eurovision Song Contest with a song composed by Kostas Pantzis kai penned by Poseidonas Giannopoulos, author of the 2007 Cypriot entry as well. The man behind Kalomoira’s song, has spoken exclusively to esctoday.comin this first interview right after Kalomoira made up her mind to try her hand in the the Greek final with his composition.

First of all tell us, what is the title of the song and what it is? How would you describe it?

Well, the title is Secret combination and it’s an RnB song. It is more “American production” style. I can tell you that all three of us have doneour best.Kalomoira, me and Poseidonas Gianopouloswe all gave our 100% .

Does the song have Greek elements?

Indeed, it does have some elememts that are totally Greek.

Such as the darbuka (toumberleki) for example?

Yes, there is darbuka (toumberleki) but not the rhythm like we know it. It has a more western rhythm with Greek sounds. It is darbuka with Mediterranean sounds.

Howlong have you been a composer?

Now, that's got to be 15 years. I am young though, I’m only 30 years old but I have been working since I was 15 years old.

Have you worked with Kalomoira before?

We have made two albums together, her first and her second album. On her first one, I composed the song “Egw eimai I Kalomoira” and two other songs, andin her second album the song “Paizeis” and other 5 songs. In general, with Kalomoira and Heaven, her record labe,l we have a very good collaboration and everything is good till today.

Have you ever composed a song for the Eurovision Song Contest before?

This is the first time. It’s my first attempt and till now everything goes well. We will see what will happen from now on.

Have you imagined how the song will be presented on the Greek final’s stage or on Belgrade’s stage?

No, because I am not the rightperson to do so. I have discussed it with Kalomoira, wedid give it some some thought but I don’t get involved in things I don’t know. I know how to compose and put the lyrics on a song. That’s it. There are people who are proper for this.

You already know the other two artists that will take part at the Greek final, Kostas martakis and Chryspa. Do you think your song will come up in this contest?

When I wrote the song I was thinking of Eurovision. Something new for Eurovision. There’s never been an RnB song in the Eurovision just like the productions we listen, for example, Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, something like that. It is something different for me but not for Europe and the whole world because RnB songsare something we listen to everyday. It is a more extreme thing but it is based on what the whole planet listens to right now.

Do you have any favourites among the Greek Eurovision Song Contest past entries?

In general, all the songs that have been to Eurovision were all good. I am a good friend of Christos Dantis (composer of Greece 2005, Greek NF 2007)and I have known him since I was 12 years old. My number one, I loved this song and from the first time I heard it, before the National selection and before they had even decided upon the songs, I told him that this is is a top three song and can do no worse. It was a very strong song that finally brought Eurovision in Greece. It was the best thing that ever happened.

What have your friends told you about your song, Secret combination?

I haven’t played it to all my friends yet, just my very close ones, my parents, my girlfriend, Kalomoira, Mr Kalimeris from Heaven. Everybody reacted positivelly, I believeit will do well, we will see, I don’t know, the situation is really weird, it’s my first time as well, I hopewe'll do well.

Esctoday would like to thank Kostas Pantzis for this interview and wish him good luck to the Greek final.